What Are You Really Running Toward?

"All my life, people told me I wasn’t a runner. I didn’t look like a runner and wasn’t built like one."

I came from a background in competitive swimming, where running was something you did to drop weight — a punishment disguised as cross-training. For years, that association stuck. Running didn’t feel like a release or a source of joy; it felt like a chore.

That changed during one of the lowest points in my adult life. I began running again — not for performance, not to prove anything, but simply to move, to feel something different, to cope. And something shifted. Running slowly transformed into something deeply personal and healing. There were no expectations, no judgments. Just me and the road (or the trail), and a curiosity about where this journey could take me.

A Love Letter to Movement

Running has since become a kind of love letter to myself—a way of checking in and understanding the intersection of mind, body, and spirit. Whether training for a long-distance triathlon or heading out for a short jog, every run brings clarity. It brings me closer to the version of myself I’m intentionally building: connected, grounded, creative, and alive.

I recently realized that every race I sign up for feels like a quiet profession of love. The best kind of love invites you to grow, show up as you are, and repeatedly choose yourself. It’s the kind of love full of awe and magic—something close to divinity.

So when people ask what I’m running toward, I think about that love.

I’m running toward longevity.
Toward joy.
Toward the version of myself I want to become.

Endorf Essentials: My Go-To Rituals

As an endurance athlete and a passionate home herbalist, I’ve always been interested in how daily rituals support long-term performance. My two favorite Endorf products have become essential parts of my routine:

🟢 Pre-Run Mix:
My go-to before morning training and races is a blend of Cordyceps, Guarana, and Beta-Alanine. It gives me just the right balance of physical stamina and mental focus. Beta-Alanine is especially interesting—it has natural benefits for performance and recovery, particularly for women. Dr. Stacy Sims covers this topic beautifully.

🟢 Quadrifecta (Alcohol-Free):
This is my daily brain and body support — four potent adaptogens (Lion’s Mane, Reishi, Chaga, Turkey Tail) extracted in apple cider vinegar. I love adding a dropper to fizzy water with lemon for a tangy, feel-good tonic.

Mycology, Mushrooms, & Meaning

I’ve always loved experimenting with herbs and plant allies in my kitchen. My pantry has a “plant shelf” dedicated to functional mushrooms and tonic herbs: Chaga, Reishi, Cordyceps, Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail, Yerba Santa, Schisandra, Holy Basil, and more.

Mushrooms aren’t just ingredients — they’re guides. I cook with them, simmer them into broths and syrups, even throw whole cordyceps into a stir-fry with enoki and shimeji. They’ve taught me to see food as functional, ritual as medicine.

And yes, I’ve also explored the realm of psychedelics with deep reverence. For me, the parallels between psychedelics and endurance sports are striking — both involve confronting discomfort, entering flow states, and discovering profound inner truths.

Endurance sports are, at their core, a head game. You spend long hours alone with your thoughts. You hit walls, you break through. You witness absurdity, joy, fear, and beauty. Psychedelics, when used with intention, offer a similar mirror.

Both have taught me to listen to my inner voice—and, more importantly, to make it gentler.

The Future of Running: Where Are We Headed?

I think the running world is in a beautiful moment right now. This wave of openness and inclusivity is a welcoming energy for people who never saw themselves as “runners.”

It’s less about paces and podiums and more about community, connection, and self-discovery. Whether it’s someone toeing the line of their first 5K or diving into an Ironman (like I did), there’s room at the table.

And that’s what I want to see more of:
People discover a version of themselves in motion that they like.
People are using running not just to get somewhere but to come home to themselves.

Final Thoughts

The journey of an athlete isn’t a straight line. It’s messy, magical, and deeply personal. It’s about becoming the kind of person who chooses to show up — again and again — not out of obligation but out of love.

Running did that for me. So did mushrooms. So did presence.

And I hope, in some way, they might do that for you, too.

Featured Products

📦 Endorf Pre-Run Mix
⚡ Energize your training with Cordyceps, Beta-Alanine & more.

📦 Quadrifecta (Alcohol-Free)
🌿 A powerful blend of Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail & Chaga.

📦 Solace Post-Workout Spray
🌬️ Menthol, magnesium, eucalyptus relief in a bottle.

📦 Endorf Coffee with Cordyceps
☕ Smooth, less acidic coffee infused with 500mg of performance-boosting cordyceps.

 

Want to share your journey?
Drop us a line at info@endorf.co or tag us on Instagram @endorfapp. We’d love to feature your story.